Codiaum flower. Description, features, types, planting and care of codiaum

Description and homeland of the plant

This leafy succulent officially has two names: Croton or Codiaum. Some experts believe that this is the name of the same plant. Others consider Codiaum to be a cultivated domestic flower, and Croton to be a wild variety from which medicines are produced. Most likely, the difference in name came from the different places where they grow in the wild. The evergreen shrub comes from the Pacific Islands, the Malay Archipelago and the northern coast of Australia. There are about 14 species and belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. Read an article about another representative of the Euphorbiaceae family - Poinsettia.
All the beauty and decorativeness of this home flower is in the leaves. They can be very diverse in shape: large and oval, with wavy edges; lance-shaped, with a pointed tip; three-toed or fan-shaped. The foliage color varies, but usually the top is greener. With age, the leaves first turn yellow, then acquire a red or brown tint.

The color of the leaves is heterogeneous - some have pronounced spots, some are distinguished by different colored veins. There are species with a marbled pattern on the leaves. The leaf blade is very hard and elastic. When flowering, all species shoot out arrows with small, inconspicuous flowers. Most often, it is removed so that the plant does not waste nutrients unnecessarily.

It must be borne in mind that Croton juice is very poisonous, so it is not placed in children's rooms, and they try to make the plant inaccessible to pets. Given the wide variety of colors and leaf shapes, Croton will fit into any office interior. Caring for croton at home is not difficult, as many beginning gardeners think. The main thing is to follow the advice given in this article.

How and with what to fertilize without causing harm?

Croton Petra responds well to feeding. In summer and spring, fertilizer should be applied twice a month; in winter, fertilizing should be reduced and carried out no more than once a month.

Experienced gardeners recommend using organic fertilizers or alternating them with mineral fertilizers. The application of mineral fertilizers in high doses leads to the growth of ugly leaves. Nitrogen applied in excess amounts causes loss of variegated color.

Kinds

Codiaeum variegatum

The ancestor of all cultural species of Codiaums. In nature, it grows either as a shrub up to 1.5 meters in height, or as a four-meter tree with smooth branches and leaves located only at the ends of the branches. At home it grows up to half a meter.

It has large, up to 25-30 cm leaves, arranged alternately. The leaves are leathery and dense. Has a wide variety of colors. It grows slowly. Through selection, various species with different leaf shapes have been bred from it. In this codiaum they are initially oval in shape, the leaf blade is even.

Croton variegated

Varieties of Codiaum motley:

• Genuinum - leaves with smooth edges, flat, oval or lancet-shaped, with pointed tips at the base and tips. On the upper side of the leaf, along the central vein, golden patterns are visible. There are species with a reddish tint to the initially growing leaves;
• Decorated (picturatum) - the leaves are narrower, closer to lanceolate, the color is approximately the same as the previous variety;
• Tortoiseshell (tortile) - the leaf plate is heart-shaped at the base, then elongated with a pointed tip, twisting slightly around its axis. The color is variegated: a red central vein and a golden stripe stand out against a green background. On both sides of the sheet there are irregular spots of the same color;
• Trilobate (trilobium) - the base of the leaf is deltoid. The leaf plate itself is divided into three parts. The color of the leaves is very diverse - from stripes of different colors along the veins, to different colored spots or a combination of both;
• Wrapped (volutum) - broadly lanceolate long leaves curled towards the base. Over time, the plant takes on the shape of a ball and looks very original;
• Narrow-leaved (angustifolium) - linear narrow leaves reach a length of 25 cm with a width of 0.5 to 1 cm. Veins and random spots located on the leaves can be colored yellow.
• Appendiculatum Celak. – Distinguished by the unusual shape of the leaves. The broad oval plate at the apex narrows to a vein and then expands again, forming, as it were, a second leaf.

There are also bred varieties that have become widespread among flower growers and have their own names:

Codiaeum Petra

Green leaves with yellow veins. A compact bush growing up to 50 cm in height. The leaves are large and directed upward. Brightly visible veins greatly decorate the plant.

Croton Petra

Codiaeum Excellent

The upper part of the leaf is green with yellow spots and the lower part is reddish-burgundy. The leaves are large, reminiscent of oak. The bush is quite compact.

Codieum Mix

They call a whole group of succulents. Often, without knowing the exact name, bred species from Kodiuem motley fall into this group.

Coroton Mix

Codieaum Mrs. Ayston

In adulthood it takes the form of a tree. The leaves have an unusual cream color when young; as they mature, they first turn yellow and then turn green. On one tree you can see all the colors that leaves can have. It grows into a fairly tall tree, with proper care, all covered with foliage.

Croton Mrs. Eyeston

Codieaum Mummy

They are distinguished by narrow leaves that twist in a spiral around its axis. The color of the leaves is orange-red with dark green stripes, except for the apical leaves. A very bright and decorative plant.

Croton Mammy

Codieum Zanziebare

It is distinguished by thin (width no more than 1.5 cm) leaves growing up to 40 cm in length. The leaves are not uniform in color, but most of them are dark green with small yellow speckles.

Croton Zanzibar

Croton aucuboid (Codieaum ucubaprominent)

It looks quite unusual, because... has bright green lanceolate leaves strewn with yellowish specks. To maintain the bright color of the leaves, you need good lighting, otherwise the croton may turn green, thereby losing its decorative effect.

Croton aucubides

Description of croton, origin, features

The houseplant croton is also called codiaum; now these names are considered to be synonyms. But from a scientific point of view, the second one will be more accurate. Crotons are a genus of over a thousand species of tropical shrubs and trees. Their closest relatives, they belong to the same family Euphorbiaceae, are codiaeums. According to the latest data, there are only 17 species of evergreen plants in this genus. And only one of them, Codiaeum variegatum, is adapted to home conditions. It is his flower growers who are accustomed to calling croton.

Croton is a tropical plant, it is accustomed to warm and humid climates.

Codium is native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia (common in India, Malaysia, Indonesia) and the islands of Oceania and Australia. The climate in these parts is mild, the temperature does not drop below +25, the rains are plentiful but short, and the soil is always slightly damp. Therefore, the plant fell in love with high humidity and very warm, even hot, air.

According to one version, the plant received the name croton from the ancient people who inhabited the Moluccas Islands (Indonesia). According to another, naturalist Carl Linnaeus gave it the name of the Italian city of Crotone, which in turn was named after the ancient Greek hero.

Croton (codium), like all representatives of the Euphorbiaceae family, has a milky sap. It is poisonous to humans and animals. Croton "milk" can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation. Therefore, you must follow safety rules: wear gloves when starting work, and then wash your hands and tools. The plant should be out of reach of small children and animals.

In freedom, codiaum grows above 3 meters

In their natural environment, crotons grow up to 3 meters or more. Houseplants are rarely taller than one and a half meters, and there are compact forms up to 60 cm. As a rule, this is an upright bush with variegated leathery foliage. The shape of the leaf plate has many options: an elongated or very narrow oval, an ellipse with a pointed or rounded end, two or three blades. Some varieties of croton have spiral, wavy, or intricately curved foliage. Its color is no less whimsical. On one plant you can see different shades of green, as well as yellow, red, pink and purple, burgundy painting. The pattern and brightness of the ornament drawn by nature depend on the conditions under which the flower is kept and its age. The more light and the older the croton, the more interesting and rich the colors will be.

The older the croton bush, the more varied and interesting its coloring.

An adult croton can bloom with good care. But the inflorescences cannot compete with the variegated foliage. They resemble a brush and appear in the axils of the leaves, each with one to two dozen small whitish flowers. They are divided into male ones, consisting of stamens and similar pom-pom balls, and female ones, curved pistils. The flowers on the cluster are of only one sex, but they open at the same time. Flowering greatly weakens the croton, after which growth slows down for 3–4 months. Therefore, at home, flower stalks are usually removed.

Male croton flowers are balls of stamens, they are cute, but take a lot of energy from the plant

Croton has never been considered an easy species to grow. It has always had a reputation as a capricious and demanding plant. This luxurious beauty takes a long time to get used to a new place, can get sick immediately after transplantation, requires a lot of light and high air humidity all year round, and cannot tolerate cold and drafts.

It has become easier to grow codiaum (croton) at home; now there are devices that humidify the air and special lamps for plants

Previously, such requirements were difficult to meet. But now flower growers have accumulated a wealth of experience in growing the whimsical croton and are successfully using it. Plants and modern devices help fulfill the whims. To make the air tropically damp, you can use an electric humidifier or an indoor fountain. Short daylight hours will be lengthened by special lamps. But even with such technical support, the croton will not do without constant attention; it needs to regularly wipe the foliage, form a bush, protect it from temperature changes and pests. This plant is suitable for caring and caring gardeners.

Croton requires a lot of attention and care from the grower

Video: difficulties of growing codiaum

Care

Watering

Codiaum (or Croton) loves frequent and abundant watering. It should be watered as soon as the top layer of the substrate has dried. But after a few hours, excess water from the pan must be drained. Water suitable for irrigation must be soft - melt or rain, or it must be filtered or boiled.

To prevent the water in the substrate from turning sour, the pot must be selected so that the roots completely fill it. The top layer of soil should be loosened as roots form. Do not allow it to dry out for a long time, the plant will react very quickly and begin to shed its leaves.

Lighting

Loves good lighting, but is afraid of direct sunlight. Direct sun exposure causes burns on the leaves. So it is better to protect the plant from direct exposure to rays with a cloth. For placement in an apartment or other room, choose windows facing southeast or southwest. On northern windows, the lighting will not be enough, and the succulent will quickly fade, all the beauty of its leaves will disappear. In winter, it is necessary to provide good lighting, possibly artificial lighting.

Temperature

The temperature of our standard apartments is very suitable for this plant.

• In summer, Kodiem requires 20-22 degrees of heat;
• In winter, the temperature should not fall below 18 degrees. The best place in the apartment for a succulent is close to the central heating radiator;
• Codiaum does not tolerate drafts, so you should not take it out, even on warm, windless days, to an open balcony or loggia. If an adult plant is in your winter garden, you need to make sure that no drafts touch it;
• Temperature changes are also very harmful to the plant.

Humidity

Croton is a tropical plant, so it needs a high concentration of humidity. You can provide the necessary humidity by daily spraying. For additional moisture, place containers of water between pots of plants. Once a month you can shower the plant. If for some reason you make artificial rain on Codiaum, you can wipe it with a damp sponge. This will improve the appearance of the plant, clear the pores of dust and increase humidity.

The soil

It is better to make a substrate for the plant yourself; you can rarely find a suitable one in store-bought mixtures for Codiaum. It's not very difficult to make. For the composition you need to take:

• Leaf soil, preferably from under linden, birch or hazel;
• Garden humus;
• Peat (you can buy it separately in the store);
• Coarse river sand, thoroughly washed.

All components are taken in equal proportions. Add finely crushed charcoal and a little zeolite to this mixture. Then mix everything thoroughly. Coal is needed to suppress mold and bacteria. Zeolite absorbs fertilizers and gradually releases them, which is very beneficial for the plant.

When replanting, all old substrate must be removed from the roots. Roots that are damaged or beginning to rot should be cut off and sprinkled with crushed charcoal.

Fertilizer

In order for the color of the leaves to remain bright, in addition to proper lighting, this plant needs mineral supplements. At a specialized flower shop, purchase complex mineral fertilizer for succulents and cacti.

In spring and summer, dilute it as written in the instructions and fertilize from spring to autumn once a week; in winter, dilute the fertilizer by half the amount indicated on the label and apply it once a month.

Replanting after purchase

The process of transplanting codiaum
Do not touch the purchased codiaum for about 2-3 weeks. Let him get used to the new conditions. Subsequently, replant young flowers up to 2-3 years old annually, adult plants from 3 years old - every 2-3 years. You should not hesitate to replant if the roots have grown through the drainage holes. Spring and summer are the best time to replant codiaum. Flower transfer procedure:

1. To disinfect, calcine the soil or spill it with a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate and dry it a little.
2. Moisten the soil with water. So, the earthen lump will not fall apart, the roots will not be damaged.
3. Pour expanded clay into a new pot in a layer of about 3 cm.
4. Add fertile soil.
5. Place the flower in the center and sprinkle the roots with soil, pressing the soil down a little.
6. Water the croton generously and place it in the light in a warm room.

How to choose a pot and soil for codiaum

To prevent the roots from rotting later, take wide, shallow containers. Plastic or clay pots with large drainage holes are suitable. The diameter of the new container should be 2-5 cm larger than that of the old container. If the pot is 28 cm wide, replanting is not done.

The soil is prepared from equal parts:

• turf land;
• humus;
• peat soil;
• rotted fallen leaves.

Reproduction

Seeds

Codiaum is a dioecious plant. Therefore, to propagate by seeds, you need to have at least one male plant and several female ones. Since they bloom at different times, it is necessary for at least one pair to match for artificial pollination. Mostly, professionals resort to the seed method to obtain a new hybrid or variety. But if you bought seeds, they must be fresh.

• Seeds are disinfected in hot water or potassium permanganate solution. Then leave in clean water for 24 hours to swell;
• Sow in a container filled with a mixture of river sand and peat, and cover with a 1 cm layer of substrate. The soil should always be moist, so it is better to cover the planting with film or glass;

When two true leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate pots.

Cuttings

The most common and simplest method of propagation is by cuttings. You can take cuttings throughout the year, but the best time is from February to April.

• The tops of the shoots are cut into cuttings, which remain during the planned formation of a beautiful crown. Do not forget that the milky sap is very poisonous, so take precautions - at least protect your hands with gloves;
• The poisonous milky sap must be washed off with water, and fresh sections sprinkled with charcoal powder. Some gardeners use heteroauxin (growth stimulant);
• To root cuttings, use a mixture of coarse river sand and peat. The temperature for cuttings during the rooting period must be maintained at about 24 degrees;
• For rooting, you need to make a mixture of river sand and peat in even quantities. You can root both in a common container and in separate pots, filling them with the appropriate mixture;
• Rooting takes about a month or a little more. During this entire time, you need to spray the cuttings with soft warm water and make sure that the top layer of soil is moist;
• After rooting, the plants need to be planted in separate pots with fresh substrate, the same as for adult plants. The old substrate must be shaken off well before planting.

Pots are chosen with the smallest diameter. A good layer of drainage must be placed at the bottom. Drainage can be medium expanded clay, fine gravel or broken red brick.

By layering

Some varieties with long branches are propagated by air layering. To do this, the bare parts of the branches are released into a ring 1 cm wide and sphagnum moss is applied to this place. Everything is wrapped in film, tightly secured at the top and bottom. In a month, aerial roots will sprout in the moss and, after cutting off the apical part with roots, you need to plant it in a small pot.

Plant varieties

Most often we grow variegated codiaeum (codiaeum variegatum), or simply variegatum, as well as varieties of this species. The plant's homeland is considered to be the tropical part of Asia. There it naturally grows in the form of a tree up to 4 meters, possessing large dense leaves of 30 centimeters. Their shades depend on the variety.

Codiaum varigatum

Sometimes we hear that the flower is called differently - croton. Don't confuse them. They are similar to each other, as they belong to the same family of spurges, but croton is not as attractive. Codiaum has a property that is characteristic only of it - a change in the shape and shades of foliage, depending on the conditions of its maintenance.

Codiaeum variegatum is divided into varieties, they differ in the shape of the leaves:

• appendage, consists of two parts united by a small bridge;
• lobed, has shallowly dissected leaves, pointed in the center, and having both a single and variegated color;
• flat-leaved, has large oval leaves that are slightly wavy.

Varigatum is the basis of many varieties of codiaum, among which the following are well known:

1. Petra. The flower has large stalked leaves on straight branched trunks, which are arranged alternately, their shapes are different. The color combines a green background with a yellow edging, as well as a scattering of specks and veins of the same shade.
2. Excellent. This variety has leaves shaped like oak leaves. And the color from yellow-green in the upper part of the stem gradually changes to burgundy at the bottom.
3. Mammy. The variety has narrow and small leaves compared to other varieties. They have a slight waviness. Shades on one sheet go from green to pink and yellow. Leaf blade with a pronounced red vein.
4. Sleigh Star. In this plant variety, the yellow tint of the leaves predominates. Green color only at the top and bottom. Their oval shape is pointed at the top.
5. Mrs Eyeston. A plant with wide oval leaves, slightly shortened. The young leaf has a cream pattern that gradually changes with age into bright spots of red, yellow and pink.
6. Disraeli. The leaves of the variety are lobed. Their tops are green with yellow veins and specks. Below they are brown-brick.
7. Black Prince. It has a flat-leaved shape. The foliage has an exotic appearance due to its black-green color with a large number of specks of red, orange, and yellow, which are located over the entire surface.

When buying a plant in flower shops, you can often come across the name codiaum mix. This is not the name of the variety. It’s just that many varieties of flowers are imported into batches under one general name. Therefore, only a specialist can accurately determine which variety it is.

Diseases and pests

Poor care of Codiaum, especially not following rules such as maintaining high humidity, not wiping the leaves regularly, and not maintaining temperature conditions leads to disease. This also leads to the appearance of insect pests.

• Spider mites form whitish spots on the surface of the leaves; if the necessary measures are not taken, the plant may die. The appearance of red spider mites is promoted by insufficient air humidity. To get rid of the pest, you need to wash the plant well with either a soap solution or a tobacco solution, or use store-bought preparations: “Fufnon”, “Fitoderm”, “Derris”;
• If light brown dry plaques a scale insect has settled on the plants . You can fight it with a mixture of soap solution, tobacco infusion and kerosene. The drug Attelik also helps well. It must be diluted as indicated in the instructions;
• In addition to pests, Codiaum can be susceptible to various diseases. Bright sunlight can cause burns , which take a long time to heal;
• When there is insufficient air humidity, the plant's leaves first turn black and dry , then their edges. If the situation is not corrected, the plant will shed its leaves and die;
• also sheds its leaves even if the air temperature stays below 10-12 degrees for a long time. In this case, you can save the plant by moving it to a warm place;
• Bright colors fade if the plant does not have enough lighting. But it’s not difficult to fix this - provide the flower with the right lighting, and it will gradually restore its colors.

Conditions for croton (table)

Clean leaves are the key to health

Croton is a neat plant; it can get sick due to the fact that the leaves are covered with dust. Why is wet cleaning so important?

1. Dust closes the pores on the leaves, and this makes air exchange with the environment difficult.
2. The dusty film slows down the process of photosynthesis, the plant suffers from nutrient deficiency.
3. Dust can contain and accumulate harmful substances.
4. Pests may be hiding under the dusty layer.

Washing crotons with wavy or curly foliage requires patience, but is important for the health of the plant.

Therefore, at least once a week, take a soft damp cloth and wipe the croton, admiring the colorful patterns. It is better in the first half of the day so that the plant dries out before nightfall. To make cleaning easier, pre-spray your beauty.

For greater beauty, you can add gloss to the foliage. It is better to take polishing products in aerosol packaging. Or try traditional recipes. Polish the leaves with beer, a weak solution of vinegar or milk. Do not touch young foliage. And polish the adult one carefully, do not press hard, so as not to cause injury.

Leathery leaves look good after polishing

Florarium and croton

Croton lovers say that the most difficult thing is to ensure high humidity. It is not always possible to create tropics in an apartment in which a fastidious plant feels good. Croton will enjoy living in a home greenhouse - a florarium. It is easy to maintain the desired microclimate, including high air humidity. Making an open florarium is not difficult. You will need a container with a door or an aquarium made of glass or transparent plastic.

1. Fill the container with drainage material (pebbles + charcoal), porous soil substrate with a high sand content.
2. Plant tropical plants with the same care and maintenance requirements.
3. Moisten the plantings, cover them with a lid or just glass, and place them in a warm and bright place.
4. The florarium plants themselves create a favorable microclimate.
5. From time to time, if condensation appears, ventilate the mini-jungle.
6. Once every few months, give the plants a rain and clean the florarium: inspect the pets, remove damaged leaves, add substrate if necessary.

For a florarium, select plants with similar habits

The many-sided croton is an ideal plant for a florarium. To avoid problems with care, you can plant different varieties. Such a “kindergarten” will not be boring. Good neighbors for croton are ferns, arrowroot, fittonia, rheo, selaginella. Avoid planting succulents and cacti with them.

An indoor florarium is sometimes called a garden in a bottle. Its main difference from an open one is a container with a rather narrow neck that closes tightly. After planting, the bottle garden is watered only once, and then it is sealed and not opened. Plants live in a closed ecosystem. An indoor florarium is not the best choice for croton. Its leaves are too large.

Croton is suitable for growing in an open florarium; for a garden in a bottle it is large

Is it possible to grow a bonsai from codiaum?

Croton's patterned foliage will look great on a bonsai tree. This idea certainly dawns on flower growers. And such bonsai are grown. But with great difficulty and losses. Croton has several qualities that make it unsuitable for this:

• leaves are too large and heavy;
• the plant does not tolerate transplantation well, and for bonsai this is an annual operation;
• easily loses foliage due to care errors;
• a straight stem is difficult to form.

You can grow a bonsai from croton, but it is difficult, and the result will not always please you

Signs and superstitions

• It is believed that Codiaum (Croton) is a very energetic flower. Many believe that he does not allow people with negative energy into the house. The flower senses people with bad thoughts and protects people living in the same room from them. Croton affects order and stability in the home.
• It improves the efficiency of its owners who are indecisive, despondent, or pessimistic. Codieum gives self-confidence and removes all negative phenomena. People suffering from speech problems communicate better in a room where the plant is located.
• For people involved in art, the flower is useful for new ideas and plans. It is also good to have a plant in the workplace to harmonize business relations between employees.

Forms

There are the following types of codiaums, depending on the shape, size and appearance:

• aucubifolia;
• angustifolia. (photo shown below)

An amazing feature of croton is the ability to change the shape and color of its leaves depending on natural living conditions.

Thanks to this, many types of crotons of various shapes and colors were artificially bred.

Based on the shape of the leaf, the following types of variegated codiaum are distinguished:

1. Appendage - a green or colored sheet with a jumper, consisting of 2 parts.
2. Lobed - leaves are three-lobed, with a longer middle part, about 20 cm in length with stripes and spots.
3. Flat-leaved - large wavy leaves in the shape of an oval.

Crotons aucofolia

They have leathery leaves that are light green, oval or lanceolate in shape, often with golden spots and dashes.

Crotons angustifolia

They are distinguished by thin, long leaves.

How does it reproduce

Birch - indoor plant, home flower

Reproduction can occur by seeds and cuttings. The plant is rarely propagated by seeds; an easier method is vegetative propagation by cuttings.

Germination of seeds

This is the main method of propagation of hybrid Croton Mix. It is used for the reason that if you use the vegetative method, there is a possibility that the new plant will lose its varietal properties. Only fresh seeds that were collected this season are suitable for sowing.

The seeds must first be soaked for a day. The water should be heated to 60 degrees. After a day, when the seeds swell, they can be sown in the substrate. The sowing depth should be no more than 1 centimeter.

For germination, it is necessary to maintain the room temperature between 20 and 21 degrees. Crops should be watered only by pouring warm water into special trays.

After the young plants have at least 3 leaves, picking is carried out and each seedling is planted in a separate container.

Rooting cuttings

When cutting cuttings, it is better to wear gloves, since poisonous milk leaks out of the plant at the cutting site. If it gets on soft tissue, it can cause burns. It should be rooted in a moist substrate. Rooting occurs in 1-1.5 months.

Reproduction of codiaum by layering

To make the roots grow faster, leave a minimum of leaves on the stem, then the plant will direct all its energy to the root.

Air layering

A less common type of propagation, but also used by gardeners. The sheet is fixed to the soil with a special clothespin, and the top is sprinkled with soil at the point of contact with the ground. Caring for a plant with a “clothespin” is the same as for another member of the family.

Croton propagation

Periodically it is necessary to check whether the cuttings have taken root. The first roots on the clothespin will begin to appear in 2-4 weeks.

Codiaum excelent care at home – Flowers365

The flower belongs to the euphorbia crops and is poisonous. The plant's homeland is Melanesia, India, Polynesia, northern Australia, southeast Asia. Wild codiaum grows up to 2.5 m. At home, croton is 65-115 cm high.

Croton species

An indoor flower with broadly ovate, notched, three-lobed, blunt-pointed, pointed, oblong-lanceolate, asymmetrical leaves.

There is green, yellowish foliage with orange, pinkish, red, purple stripes or spots. The shade of the crown may vary.

In summer, paniculate inflorescences with long anthers form in the leaf axils. The flowers are small, pale yellow.

It is not recommended to grow croton at home if you have animals. The milky sap of the plant can harm pets. The liquid is poisonous and severely irritates the skin, so you need to wear gloves when caring for the flower. According to popular belief, croton is a plant that takes away negativity. Feel free to keep him at home if you need determination and a good mood.

Insect pests of codiaum

The most common pests for codiaum, which can attack a beautiful flower and even destroy it in the absence of health measures, are:

• Spider mite.
• Shield.
• Chervets.
• Multi-clawed mite.

Spider mites are red and small in size. As a rule, it lives on the underside of the leaf, entwining the surface with a white thin web. If this pest infests a plant, small white dots and spots appear over the entire surface of the leaves. If the mite is not removed in time, there is a possibility of the flower drying out. To eliminate it, it is necessary to disinfect the entire surface of the plant using tobacco infusion with laundry soap, then rinse well with warm water and treat with ground sulfur or a ready-made store-bought preparation (insecticide). Spider mites can cause the leaves of codiaum to dry out.

Scale insects are a pest that causes dark brown spots to appear over the entire surface of the plant. It reproduces very rapidly; adult individuals sit motionless, covering themselves with “shields” from which small larvae crawl out. As they spread, they infect an increasingly larger area of ​​the flower. To eliminate this pest, simply moisten a cotton pad with soapy water and manually remove all areas of infection. This procedure should be carried out repeatedly until the pest is completely eliminated.

Eggworm - appears very often in an indoor flower called codiaum in the form of white waxy discharge on the veins of the leaves and petioles of the plant. The pest is very miniature in size and lives in colonies. To eliminate it, it is necessary to isolate the plant from other house flowers and begin to treat the affected areas with mineral oil, under the film of which the worm will suffocate. The procedure must be carried out in dim sunlight and until all pest colonies are eliminated.

Multi-clawed mite - the main sign of this pest is the appearance of brown crusts on the petioles of the plant and the cessation of growth of leaves at the ends of the shoots, their roughness and curling down. To combat this pest, it is enough to treat the plant with mineral oil, or laundry soap, or a ready-made store-bought preparation (Fitoverm, Vertimek, etc.).

Below are photos of varieties of codiaeum diseases and its most common pests, from which you can study in detail what the external signs of damage look like:

Codiaum excelent flower how to care for?

Codium is a plant from the Euphorbiaceae family. The homeland of this plant is Eastern India, but this does not prevent you from growing this flower when caring for it at home.

General information

The leaves of codiaum are fleshy with veiny veins. The leaf shape varies among different species: an oblong oval, lobed with a pointed or blunt tip, and an asymmetrical shape.

The shade of the leaves also varies: green with yellow veins along the leaf, light olive, rich chocolate with yellowish accents, as well as an orange tint.

In young plants, the foliage has a light shade, and over time it turns into darker shades. Basically, each plant has two leaf colors.

Flowering occurs in unsightly yellow inflorescences with a white tint.

The codium plant is often confused and called croton due to the similarity of the leaves. But these are completely different plants, well, they belong to the same family of Euphorbiaceae. The codiaum flower is grown as a houseplant. And croton is more used as a spicy plant in medicine, as well as in the manufacture of varnish products.

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Types and varieties

Codiaum variegated or variegated , as a synonym. Under natural conditions, this species can reach over two meters in height, and some up to six meters. Such tall species, more like trees, with bare stems about 70 cm.

The leaf length is about 30 cm, arranged alternately. The leaves are variegated in color with bright sunny, scarlet or green veins. This species is characterized by a different shape of the leaf plate. It can be wide linear, oval oblong, like a blade and similar in shape to a guitar. The edging of the leaves can be in the form of a wave, twisted, or spiral.

The plant of this species is dioecious. The female and male traits of the inflorescences are different. Females do not have petals, while males have a corolla and a calyx.

Codium "Petra" is a species with even branched shoots and large sinewy leaves that grow alternately. The shade of the leaves is a contrasting dark olive, with a variegated yellow edging along the leaves and veins of this shade.

Codium "Excellent" this species has leaves in the form of blades. The shade of the leaves on the surface is greenish with yellow veins along the leaf, and on the inside it is red with brown veins.

Codium "Mammi" This variety has leaves that are narrowed and elongated with a slight curl, in a spiral shape. The shade of the leaves is very catchy, scarlet with pink and yellow veins in alternation with red.

Codiaum "Sunny Star"

In this species, the shade of the leaves is mostly sunny tones, but the top and edges of the leaves are olive in color. Young leaves have beige tones, and over time they turn into scarlet, sunny shades and pink splashes.

Codium "Mix" is a variety that has many varieties. A species with sharp edges on the tops of leaves. The leaf length of this species is about 20 cm. There may be an extended linear length of such leaves of about 30 cm.

Codiaum “Gold Sun” is a decorative species with yellow veins and a green tint as the main color; the height of the species is about 30 cm. It is demanding on lighting.

The Tamara codiaum is named after a girl from England with whom the emperor once fell in love. On his orders, gardeners developed a varietal type of flower and named it Tamara.

The leaves of this species are elongated and have spiral tips. The inflorescences have a light shade. But when grown indoors, this variety refuses to bloom. The height of the plant is about 150 cm. The leaves are veiny with a light green tint and white veins. There are also yellow or scarlet inclusions.

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Codiaum care at home

The plant requires bright, but diffuse lighting; when exposed to direct sunlight, burns appear on it. It is better to place it indoors on the east or west side of the room. On the north side, the codiaum may not have enough lighting; for this it is necessary to provide the plant with an additional source of lighting, a fluorescent lamp.

With insufficient lighting, the plant begins to stretch and loses its variegated, rich shades, which makes it very valuable and attractive.

The plant is quite thermophilic, so the air temperature in the room and in the soil should not fluctuate. In warm summer months, the temperature should be between 19-24 degrees. And in winter it is not lower than 18 degrees. During the heating season, it is better to keep the plant near the radiator to avoid temperature changes. But for this it is necessary to ensure sufficient air humidification.

The plant does not tolerate drafts and does not need ventilation in the summer on the balcony and in the garden.

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Watering and air humidity

The plant requires constant and abundant soil moisture. Stagnation of moisture and oxidation of the soil lead to the death of the root system. Watering must be done with settled, soft water at room temperature.

To avoid stagnation of moisture in the soil, it is better to plant codiaum in a cramped container. This is necessary so that the rhizome quickly fills the soil. Good drainage to the bottom of the container is also necessary. Watering should be done constantly, allowing only the surface of the soil to dry slightly.

The air humidity in the room where the codiaum is kept must be at least 70%. The plant requires daily spraying from a spray bottle. Once every 30 years, the plant benefits from a warm shower, as well as periodic wiping of dust from the leaves with a damp cloth. For additional moisture, it is better to pour water into the pan and cover it with pebbles or moss; this is necessary on hot summer days.

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Fertilizer for codiaum

The plant always needs feeding. The plant should be fed once every seven days in the summer, and once every 30 days in the cold season with half the dose of fertilizer specified in the instructions. Mineral and organic additives are suitable for feeding.

Codium should be trimmed to form a bush. This should be done for the first time after the plant reaches a height of about 15 cm. It is necessary to pinch the upper buds. The next pinching is done after the plant has grown another 20 centimeters. Accordingly, the apical buds are pinched from each shoot.

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Codiaum transplant

Young plants need replanting every year in spring. Adult, overgrown individuals must be replanted as the container is filled with the root system.

During transplantation, the plant is transferred to another container along with the main soil, and the gaps are filled with new soil.

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Soil for codiaum

The plant needs nutritious, loose and slightly acidic soil. You can purchase ready-made soil for indoor leafy plants or prepare the soil yourself.

The composition of the soil for codiaum includes turf soil, leaf soil, coarse sand, peat soil, humus and crushed charcoal. Everything is mixed in equal proportions. There is good drainage at the bottom of the container.

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How to propagate codiaum at home

Propagation by cuttings can be done almost all year round. To do this, it is better to cut off the apical cutting or a woody piece of the stem about 10 cm long. At the cut, it is necessary to wash off the milky juice and treat it with charcoal crushed into flour. Then the plants are treated with a root growth stimulator and planted in the ground.

The rooting soil consists of coarse sand or sand in equal proportions with peat soil. Caring for cuttings involves periodically spraying the plants and moistening the soil. Temperature for rapid rooting is required within 24 degrees. You can also root cuttings in water.

The plant's root system appears in about 45 days. After rooting, the plants must be planted in separate containers.

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Codiaum propagation by leaf

A leaf is selected from a large mother plant, immersed in water until all the juice has drained, and then treated with fine charcoal. Then it takes root in a substrate of sand and peat, and forms a greenhouse, covered with film.

Open to ventilate and moisten. After the plant has taken root and several new stems have appeared, the plants should be transplanted into separate containers.

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Codiaum: home care, transplantation and propagation

Codiaum is a very unusual and attractive indoor plant that also grows naturally in Malaysia and eastern India.

There are more than a dozen varieties of this flower, which differ in different bright shades of leaves and height of shoots.

At home, this plant is quite finicky and requires the creation of special conditions for growth.

Description of the plant

Codiaeum variegatum

The codiaum flower is a beautiful, but finicky plant to grow indoors. There are 17 varieties of this flower known in nature, each of which has its own leaf color. The Codium mix variety is especially attractive for home growing.

Despite such bright leaves, which can be purple, different shades of green, red, the flower still produces inflorescences. However, it is quite difficult to achieve flowering in codiaum. At home, you will have to follow clear principles of care for comfortable flower growth, as well as follow all the recommendations of specialists.

The Euphorbiaceae family includes this unique flower. In nature, these can be woody shrubs with a straight, smooth trunk, at the top of which brightly colored leaves are concentrated. There may also be plants in the form of shrubs and herbs, which are most suitable for growing in your own home.

Codiaeums are dioecious; male flowers grow on one side and female flowers on the other; they produce inflorescences with proper care.

Many people mistakenly believe that codiaum croton is one plant. In fact, croton is a completely different flower, which is also part of the family of oliaceae. It is noteworthy that of the variety of flower varieties, only Codiaum variegatum is cultivated at home.

Flower varieties

Professional breeders know about 17 varieties of codiaum flower. Of all the variety, only the “variegated” variety is cultivated at home. In most European countries it is known as Codium croton, although this name is erroneous.

There are several popular varieties of codiaum:

codiaum mammi (the leaf blade is narrow, unlike other varieties, and wavy at the edges; the leaves even on the same plant can be very diverse; they are painted bright red, and are also adjacent to dark green leaves covered with yellow veins and pink spots);

codiaum mix (a spectacular, attractive plant, suitable for lovers of indoor flowers, has many subspecies, distinguished by large, oblong leaves);

codiaum excelent (has large, oblong green leaves with yellow veins; inside you can see red leaves of the same shape with brown veins);

Mrs. Iceton (a unique decorative flower, distinguished by oblong, but not too large leaves, they can be green, yellow or even black);

Sunny Star (pointed lanceolate leaves are green, have yellow veins, and spots of a similar color may also be present);

Tamara (feathery leaves distinguish this type of flower, and they also have an unusual white-green hue).

The list of varieties of this flower is almost endless. Moreover, each species has its own characteristics, differing in color and leaf shape.

Main features of care

Caring for codiaum at home requires knowledge and a lot of effort from the grower. The flower is quite finicky; in order to get flowering, you need to try to provide the plant with the most comfortable growing conditions.

In particular, special attention should be paid to:

• proper watering;
• application of fertilizers;
• arrangement for the winter period;
• optimal room temperature;
• lighting;
• choosing soil and pot;
• crown formation.

If you pay due attention to all aspects and provide comfortable conditions for the flower, it will grow and develop in accordance with the schedules approved by specialists.

Watering rules

Proper watering is the main condition for proper care of codiaum. This plant is accustomed to moderate moisture. The root system will not tolerate excessive soil moisture or aridity.

The substrate must be kept moist at all times. However, if the room is too cold, watering is significantly reduced. Overwatering during this period can lead to rotting of the root system.

The plant also prefers high air humidity. This is especially true in winter, when heating radiators are running, and also in summer, when the temperature outside is higher than normal.

At this time, the flower needs regular spraying or a warm shower.

Codiaum is capricious; excess moisture can lead to the death of the flower. Therefore, the next watering should be done only if the surface of the substrate in the pot dries out.

Fertilizer application

The plant needs mineral fertilizing twice a month in the spring and summer. It is important to pay attention to the composition of the purchased product. Nitrogen compounds are absolutely not suitable for codiaum, as they spoil the color of the leaves .

In order for the plant to be beautiful and meet all the requirements of the gardener, it is important to buy fertilizers with a high potassium content. In winter, feeding is also required, but in a much smaller dosage and only once a month. It is also important to water the flower with fertilizer immediately after adding warm water to avoid damage to the root system.

Peace and illumination in winter

Caring for codiaum also involves ensuring proper lighting and rest for the winter. The flower does not have a pronounced period of hibernation; it only stops growth during the period of lowering the temperature. At this time, you need to provide him with a room temperature of approximately 18 - 20C.

In addition, use artificial lighting to ensure an influx of light to the leaves, since codiaum suffers from a lack of sufficient influx of ultraviolet radiation. Using lighting devices, it is necessary to increase daylight hours to 14 hours. The maximum effect is achieved from warm spectrum LED lamps. Incandescent lamps are absolutely not suitable.

Optimal temperature and lighting

The optimal and comfortable temperature for a flower is considered to be 22 - 25C . A smaller error is allowed, but not lower than 18C. If the temperature drops lower, the plant may not survive such a jump.

The temperature should be approximately the same all year round. A sharp decrease or increase in indicators can lead to unpleasant consequences - the flower will shed all its leaves.

It will be very difficult to restore its normal state later. Codium can withstand even direct ultraviolet rays. He is thermophilic and loves a sufficient amount of light in the room.

Lack of light can also lead to leaves falling off or changing the intensity of their color.

To provide the flower with comfortable growing conditions, you need to place the pot with the plant on the windowsill on the south side of the house. In winter you need to use special lamps.

Soil selection

In specialized stores you can find a ready-made soil mixture that is suitable for all types of plants, including codiaum variegatum. You can also make up the soil for planting yourself.

The following ingredients are used for this:

• leaf soil;
• peat;
• turf;
• sand.

It is important to take all parts in equal proportions. The soil turns out to be loose and fluffy, well permeable to water and oxygen. It is recommended to use coarse river sand as drainage. Peat in the substrate is necessary to provide a slightly acidic environment. When purchasing ready-made soil for planting a flower in a store, you need to make sure that peat is present in the substrate.

Crown formation

A beautiful decorative crown can only be achieved by forming leaves. The plant always tends upward, so you need to periodically pinch the main stem to get a spherical shape and lush side leaves.

It is recommended to trim single-stemmed flowers. It is important to do this at a height of at least 15 cm. This way the plant will bush well. You should also carry out timely pruning. This will allow you to renew age-old plants and obtain planting material for flower propagation.

When pruning in spring, you should remove all weak and dry branches, as well as those shoots that have grown too high and spoil the overall decorative picture. A well-formed bush is a rather lush tree-like plant with large leaves.

Basic mistakes in care

There are several common mistakes in care that can lead to various disturbances in the development of ornamental plants.

The most common problems include:

• drying and darkening of the tips of the leaves (most often this happens due to too dry air or soil in the room; during this period it is important to establish a watering regime and humidify the air in the room by all means);
• drooping leaves and falling off (there may be several reasons, either the temperature in the room is too low, or insufficient watering, as well as temperature changes in the room, it is important to pay attention to the growing conditions of the flower);
• white, fluffy coating on the leaves (excess salts as a result of watering with hard water, water should be watered with filtered water, and the coating should be removed with a slightly acidified liquid);
• loss of leaf elasticity (excess moisture, you need to adjust the watering regime);
• stretching of stems, loss of brightness of color (the reason is insufficient lighting, the stems in this case are drawn to light sources);
• brown spots on the leaves (burns from bright ultraviolet radiation, shade should be provided on a hot afternoon);
• brown tint to the tips of the leaves (not enough heat, the heat level in the room should be increased);
• faded spots on the surface of the leaves (excessive content of nitrogen compounds in fertilizers applied to the pot with the plant).

It is important to know that any flower, including codiaum excelent, can be revived, even if it has lost all its leaves but retained a living stem.

It is necessary to dilute Epin in accordance with the recommendations of specialists and spray the plant with it. After this, you need to cover it with a bag and leave it in a warm place. The next morning you need to remove the bag and check the flower.

After a few days, the side buds should wake up and begin to grow.

Diseases and pests

Spider mite on codiaum

Codiaum has a milky juice that is secreted by its leaves and stem. This juice is poisonous to various types of pests. But, unfortunately, not for everyone. You can often see parasitic mealy worms, scale insects, thrips and spider mites on the plant.

Due to the brightness of the leaves, it is almost impossible to notice pests in the initial stages. Their detection is possible only if yellow spots begin to appear on the leaves. To avoid infection, you need to keep the flower away from indoor flowers you have just purchased or moved from another room, and also carefully inspect its leaves for pest damage.

Diseases most often form in case of insufficient or improper care of codiaum. The most common indicator of flower disease is weakening and regular falling of leaves. This is especially noticeable when new leaves simply do not have time to develop.

Reproduction and transplantation

Transplantation of codiaum

Houseplants are propagated by seeds or cuttings. In order for the seeds to germinate, they are planted immediately after collection, and this is done superficially. To obtain seedlings you need a sufficient amount of sunlight. With this method of propagation, it is difficult to predict how the young plant will grow.

Rooting by cuttings is a simpler and more reliable way to propagate codiaum flowers.

To get a viable cutting, you need to cut a piece about 15 cm high from an adult plant and place it in the ground, covering it with a jar or plastic box on top. It turns out to be a kind of greenhouse.

You can pre-treat the cuttings with growth stimulants and provide comfortable germination conditions. Usually this is a room temperature of 25 to 30C, as well as high humidity in the room.

The flower is replanted in the spring-summer period, when the plant is actively developing and growing. It is worth choosing a pot that is not too large in diameter, only 1–2 cm larger than the previous container in which the flower grew.

Source: https://fruitree.ru/razmnozhenie-rasteniy/kodieum-uhod-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

How the indoor ornamental plant codeium blooms

In its appearance, the flower combines all the shades of the autumn palette. Color varies from yellow and green to orange and red with a finely speckled pattern, with spots, stripes or prominent veins. There are even dark brown, almost black leaves with bright veins. The older the leaf, the brighter its color. It is this riot of colors that attracts the attention of both professional plant growers and amateurs.

The bright codiaum blooms, like many decorative foliage plants, faded and inconspicuously - with small white or barely yellowish flowers, collected in small racemes of 15-20 pieces. Both female and male flowers grow. Male representatives can be recognized by the fluffy stamens on each slightly curled petal, and female representatives by three curved petals.

This rather fastidious plant can grow for more than 15 years under proper conditions. Looks great in spacious, bright rooms, winter gardens and verandas. It is popular among regulars of greenhouse exhibitions and artificial gardens.

For initial reference, below are photos of a beautiful codiaum flower (including a blooming specimen) - study them.

About the history of appearance

The Malacca Islands are considered the birthplace of codiaum. Under natural conditions, it grows as a bush and grows up to 3 meters; at home, its growth is observed to be half that size. Young leaves grow green, but as they age they acquire multi-colored colors.

Codeium

Compared to other varieties and varieties, codiaum “Brick”, “Zanzibar” and “Petra” began to spread relatively recently throughout the homes and apartments of Russians. The unusual color of the leaf blade is increasingly finding people wanting to grow this plant.

A houseplant with green leaves with yellow spots appeared in European homes in the early 19th century. For a long time, experts studied the new plant, carried out breeding experiments, making a step-by-step description of each action, which ultimately made it possible to obtain a large number of new species and varieties.

Important! Despite the fact that codiaum (croton) looks great in any composition, it should be kept away from children. Many people ask the question: “Is codiaum highly poisonous or not?” The plant itself is not dangerous - its milk, which protrudes from the site of damage, is poisonous. While playing, children can damage the plant, which will lead to the baby getting dirty with its juice, which causes burns on the skin.